Chapter 176: Becoming the Sect Master, Burying the Ancestor with My Own Hands
You followed Sect Master Moyang all the way into the sect’s main hall. It was already buzzing with voices — representatives of every major faction had arrived.
“Today is the inauguration ceremony of the Heavenly Blade Sect’s new Sect Master. We welcome all Fellow Daoists to come and bear witness!”
Sect Master Moyang stood at the very top, looking down over the crowd.
“The Lan Clan of the Capital — one million high-grade spirit stones!”
“The Wang family of the Capital — thirty bottles of seventh-grade pills!”
As you listened to the congratulatory gifts from every major faction, you could only feel that each one of them was dripping with wealth!
“The Li imperial family — a heaven-tier spiritual artifact!”
“Such prestige! Even the imperial family sent someone with a gift?” You were somewhat surprised.
“I just wonder — if I revealed my true face, how would the situation turn out?”
“If the Heavenly Blade Sect really can erase the kill order, it wouldn’t be impossible for me to stay in the Heavenly Blade Sect permanently and contribute my own strength.”
“Next, I announce that the Heavenly Blade Sect’s new Sect Master is————”
“Ye Xiao!!!” Moyang extended a hand, pointing at you as he announced it loudly.
Then you saw it. The Vice Sect Master, who had been looking so smug just moments before, suddenly looked as if his parents had died. His face turned extremely ugly, and in his eyes as he looked at you, threads of killing intent spilled out.
“What?”
“How could it be him?”
“I don’t agree!” The Vice Sect Master had not even spoken yet when his lackeys began to object.
“Object? Heh. Sect Master Ye, you handle this yourself.” Moyang yielded the stage to you.
“He’s just an Elder who only recently broke through to the Return-to-Void realm. Why should he be allowed to become Sect Master?”
“Exactly, I’m not convinced!”
Your gaze swept over the few Elders who had objected. In the next instant, your figure vanished. With a boom, each of them took a punch from you.
Since they were your own people, you did not go for the kill. You merely beat them into severe injuries, leaving them kneeling before you.
“Who else refuses to accept this? Step forward, by all means!!!” Your gaze swept in all directions, and the late-stage Return-to-Void cultivation you had been concealing was revealed.
Now that you had already become Sect Master, there was naturally no need to hide your cultivation any longer.
“This…” The assembled Elders fell silent. Only the Vice Sect Master watched you with a gloomy face, yet even he did not voice any objection.
“Greetings, Sect Master Ye!” When no one responded, the First Elder hurriedly stepped forward and knelt to you in a loud voice.
With the First Elder taking the lead, the Elders and disciples on his side all knelt and paid their respects in unison.
The situation was lost, the outcome decided. The Elders on the Vice Sect Master’s side had no choice but to kneel as well.
“At ease, all of you rise.” You sat upon the Sect Master’s seat, looking down over the crowd.
“Apologies for the spectacle, Fellow Daoists.”
“Not at all, not at all.”
“Wait — Sect Master Ye, would you look at this portrait and tell us whether this is you?” From among the crowd that had come to observe the ceremony, a man suddenly stepped forward, holding a kill order bearing your likeness!
“What? How could Sect Master Ye be under a kill order?”
“Kill him, and one could make a demand of the imperial family!”
“A fine show is about to begin!”
You did not answer immediately. Instead, you looked toward Moyang, who was watching the spectacle from the side.
Sensing your gaze, Moyang smiled faintly at you. “Fellow Daoists, Ye Xiao is the new Sect Master of my Heavenly Blade Sect!”
“I just wonder — what does the Li imperial family mean by putting a kill order on my Heavenly Blade Sect’s Sect Master?!”
“Could it be that you wish to go to war with my Heavenly Blade Sect?!”
As his words fell, the atmosphere in the main hall instantly turned tense. The Elders and disciples of the Heavenly Blade Sect stared at the imperial family’s people with unfriendly eyes.
The representatives of the other factions could not help but edge away from the imperial family’s people, distancing themselves.
“So it seems this Purple Firmament Immortal Dynasty’s imperial family does not have the world in the palm of its hand after all.” Seeing the reactions of the various major factions present, you made a guess in your heart.
“Sect Master Mo jests. This is all a misunderstanding.” A woman in palace attire appeared, saying with a light laugh.
“This Empress Anle greets Sect Master Ye!” Princess Anle performed a respectful bow toward you, then produced an imperial edict.
“This is the imperial investiture edict from Imperial Father. I ask that all of you hear it out!”
Instantly, every cultivator present stood up and bowed their heads to listen.
You wanted to follow along and do the same, but Moyang stopped you, giving a slight shake of his head.
“By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees: the new Sect Master of the Heavenly Blade Sect, Ye Xiao, is outstanding in talent and profound in cultivation…”
“So this makes me a first-rank military official?” You looked toward Moyang beside you and asked.
“It’s just a formality. Go receive it.”
You walked up before Princess Anle and took the edict.
“Sect Master Ye was quite magnificent in the Secret Realm.” Princess Anle blinked at you, saying with a smile.
“The Princess isn’t bad either. How did you manage a narrow escape in that kind of environment?”
“I’m afraid you were in league with the Desolate, weren’t you?” You whispered into Princess Anle’s ear.
Princess Anle’s expression shifted slightly, then quickly returned to normal. She smiled faintly at you and said no more.
The inauguration ceremony was complete. Moyang then led you to mingle with the representatives of the various major factions, getting to know one another.
At the end, Moyang solemnly placed the Sect Master token into your hand. “I entrust the Heavenly Blade Sect to you. As long as you do not betray my Heavenly Blade Sect, my Heavenly Blade Sect will certainly not betray you!”
“Rest assured, Ancestor. This humble one will not fail the Ancestor’s entrustment, and will make the sect bigger and stronger!” You took the token and vowed.
“Cough, there’s no need for that. As long as you can keep the sect as it is, that is already enough.”
“Hm?”
Over the next three days, Moyang took you on a tour of the entire sect, telling you everything about the sect’s affairs, except for matters concerning the Core Disciples and the Ancestor.
“The Core Disciples are not under our jurisdiction. You only need to deliver their cultivation resources on time each year, and that is enough.”
“If you encounter an enemy difficult to handle, you can use this token in your hand to summon the Ancestor.”
“When that time comes, someone will naturally come to deal with it.”
“Of course, if even they cannot handle it, do not hesitate — go straight to the forbidden grounds and dig out all the Ancestors!”
“Uh.” You actually found yourself at a loss for words.
“As for those factions out there, there is no need to curry favor with them, and of course, try not to make enemies of them either.”
“You only need to remember one sentence: my Heavenly Blade Sect fears no faction whatsoever!!!”
Your eyes instantly lit up. Once again, you felt fortunate to have become the Heavenly Blade Sect’s Sect Master.
A thick, sturdy thigh was right before your eyes — no reason not to cling to it!
“Keep it up. I have high hopes for you!” Ancestor Moyang clapped you on the shoulder, then walked into the forbidden grounds.
“What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help me!”
You looked at Moyang lying in the coffin and froze for a moment.
“Hurry up and bury it!”